Kaiden Allan Taylor, 23, pleaded guilty in the County Court in Bendigo this week to attempted armed robbery, aggravated burglary, theft, driving while disqualified, careless driving, and failing to stop after an accident.

The court heard about 10.55pm on April 12, 2019, Taylor entered the Celebrations liquor store on High Street, Kangaroo Flat.

He was wearing a dark hoodie, tracksuit pants, and a black face covering at the time, as well as carrying a black bag.

Taylor approached the counter where the owner of the shop was standing. He then raised an imitation firearm and held it at the worker's face, demanding they hand over the till or cash.

Taylor went behind the counter, removing the balaclava from his face and stowing the imitation firearm in his pocket.

Two witnesses then entered the store and Taylor left the premises without taking any items.

Another witness who knew Taylor from school saw him leave the shop. The witness reported the incident to police.

The court heard then sometime between 10pm on April 14 and 9.20am on April 15 this year, Taylor broke into his former partner's North Bendigo home while she and her child were sleeping.

Taylor took her car and drove it from the property without the woman's knowledge.

Witnesses then saw Taylor driving the vehicle in an erratic manner down Pall Mall. He lost control of the vehicle and collided with a poll about 4.08am on April 15.

Witnesses saw Taylor run from the vehicle into Rosalind Park. Taylor held a disqualified probationary licence at the time.

Taylor's former partner woke about 9.20am to find Taylor in her home. He returned the keys to her car and told her not to ask any questions.

When she went to check on her car, she saw that it was no longer at her address and she contacted the police.

Police arrived at her house and located Taylor a short time later. He was brought back to the North Bendigo address where police located the imitation firearm and black clothing among his belongings.

In a police interview later that day, Taylor denied the offending.

In sentencing, Judge Wendy Wilmoth said there were "very persuasive mitigating factors" in Taylor's case that meant a reduction in his sentence.

Judge Wilmoth said he was a youthful offender who, unusually for a person with a history of drug abuse, had no prior convictions.

Taylor's defence barrister Liliana Dubroja had told the court Taylor's offending was a result of his long-term problem with drugs, which began when he was 14.

She told the court Taylor had not slept for days due to his drug use at the time of the offending.

"The incident at the liquor store is rightly described as terrifying," she said.

"But it was as an unsophisticated armed robbery."

Judge Wilmoth also noted Taylor was subject to physical, emotional and verbal abuse as a child and the entrenched disadvantage he had experienced played a significant role in his offending.

Ms Dubroja told the court Taylor originally denied the allegations in his police interview out of shame rather than thinking he was not guilty.

But she said Taylor had begun undertaking drug rehabilitation programs and education courses while in prison.

Judge Wilmoth said the community's protection was best served by Taylor's rehabilitation.

She sentenced Taylor to a total effective prison term of six months, with Taylor having already served 163 days in custody.

Upon his release he will serve a three-year community corrections order with 200 hours of unpaid community work and treatment to address his mental health and drug issues.

He was also fined $500 and banned from driving for six months.

If not for Taylor's guilty plea, Judge Wilmoth said she would have imposed a two-year jail term with a non-parole period of one year.

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